Ethics Consultation Service

MedStar Washington Hospital Center has a multidisciplinary Bioethics Committee which meets once a month to discuss ethical issues that affect members of the Hospital Center staff, and to provide education and policy advice to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

The Bioethics Committee Patients and their families are sometimes faced with difficult and confusing ethical issues related to medical care. The staff of the Center for Ethics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is available to help you, your family and your caregivers with difficult issues such as:

• How can I be sure that my wishes, as outlined in my living will or durable power of attorney, will be followed?
• What can I do when my health care values and those of my physician are in conflict?
• When is it justifiable to withdraw life-preserving therapies?

Talk to your doctor, nurse or social worker about these issues. If you need further assistance, patients can call the Center for Bioethics main number at ext. 7-0246 for information about medical-ethical consultations.

This number will also give you access to information about the Hospital Center’s ethics consultation service (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) for patients, their families and medical and hospital staff.